Page 21 of Firefly Embers

Stella was expertly perched on Max’s lap, even though a perfectly good chair sat directly beside him. I couldn’t blame her, though; if my husband looked like he did, I’d want to touch him any chance I could get, too.

Although the conversation was loud around them, I watched as Max stared at his wife with rapt attention. It was as if the words coming out of her mouth were something profound, instead of her chatter about the latest runway looks she was scouring for the boutique. He looked at her with a reverence that can only be described as sheer awe and love.

A pang of jealousy coursed through my chest as I watched them, silently wishing I had what they did.

I wanted someone to look at me like their world would end if I were gone. I wanted to be the center of someone’s attention and the star of every thought in their head.

Truthfully, all I wanted was to be wanted.

Wade unceremoniously plopped down next to me; his cologne, a mix of something earthy and warm, mingled with the scent of bourbon, hung heavy in the air. I resisted leaning in to wrap myself in the intoxicating scent that was pure Wade Daniels.

His wide hand gripped a rocks glass as he lifted his drink to his plush lips. I watched from the corner of my eye as he tipped it back and took a small sip of the amber liquid, reveling in the way his throat constricted as he swallowed.

A drop remained suspended on his bottom lip, and I watched as he expertly swiped out his tongue and whisked it away. My eyes trailed from his lips up the strong bridge of his nose, slightly crooked from too many breaks falling off the back of a horse, to the chocolate-brown eyes that stared directly into mine.

Shit.

I shot up from my seat, wiped my sweaty palms down my dress, and grabbed hold of Stella’s hand, pulling her from Max’s lap.

“Shots?” I asked, my voice an octave higher than normal. I cleared my throat and schooled my features back into neutrality as I nearly dragged Stella back to the bar.

No matter that I’d only been there a few minutes prior, I needed more alcohol to deal with the ever-growing ache thrumming through my core at the sight of the sexy cowboy I wanted to mount like a saddled bronc.

“You okay, girl? You seem a little…on edge,” Stella asked as we sidled up to the bar, and I waved in Hayes’s direction again.

He cut his eyes at me in exasperation but didn’t hesitate to pour two more shots and slide them my way.

“Yep! I’m fine, all good, nothing going on here,” I replied, the words coming far too quickly to be anything but okay as I shot back the tequila with practiced ease.

I caught the quirk of Stella’s eyebrow as she leaned her hip against the bar and kicked back her own shot.

“Cool… so, we’re going to try that again, and this time, try to pretend just a little harder.”

Hanging my head forward, I stretched myself exasperatedly over the bar, again much to Hayes’s dismay.

The tequila was starting to take effect, leaving my inhibitions and emotions on the fraying end of a very long rope. I dropped my head onto my arms and felt Stella’s warm hand as it coasted gently over my back.

It felt nice to be “mothered” in a sense and to have someone to vent to. Stella and I had fallen into an easy friendship when she arrived in Firefly Cove, but opening up about my feelings would always be somewhat foreign to me.

“Ray, I’m serious.” I turned my head, meeting her emerald gaze. Her face was a canvas of worry and concern.

I didn’t want to worry her; I just didn’t know how to explain so many years of unrequited longing to someone who hadn’t experienced it.

“I’m fine. Just dealing with some…” I struggled to find the right word for what I was experiencing.

“Emotions?” she finished for me, her lips curling into a teasing grin as she playfully bumped my shoulder.

“Yeah, those things,” I chuckled, standing upright and feeling the swirly warmth that came along with three shots of tequila in the span of about twenty minutes.

“Does it have something to do with the broody cowboy staring daggers in your direction, acting like everyone in this bar needs to scrub their eyes after they just got a good look under your dress?”

I felt my cheeks heat with embarrassment as I realized quickly that I’d been doubled over the bar, and my dress was barely cresting the bottom of my ass. I turned around, putting my back to the bar as I surveyed the crowd.

A couple of younger guys stared unabashedly over in my direction, one even giving me an exaggerated wink. I rolled my eyes and sighed.

The last thing I needed was some young saddle bronc rider thinking I was a buckle bunny looking for a good time. My glare was enough to send him the message that I was not interested.

“You wanna talk about it?” Stella asked softly, sliding a fresh shot of tequila my way. This girl knew the key to my heart and how to loosen my lips.